MIDDLE YEARS
PROGRAMME
Students Aged 11-16
The American School of Bilbao is an IB Continuum School offering the Middle Years Programme. We are pursuing authorization as an IB World School. These are schools that share a common philosophy – a commitment to high quality, challenging, International Education that ASB believes is important for our students.
* Only schools authorized by the IB Organization can offer any of its four academic programmes: the Primary Years Programme (PYP), the Middle Years Programme (MYP), the Diploma Programme (DP), or the Career-related Programme (CP). For further information about the IB and its programmes, visit http://www.ibo.org
It provides a framework of learning that encourages students to become creative, critical and reflective thinkers
PREPARING STUDENTS TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN SCHOOL
The MYP aims to develop active learners and internationally minded young people who can empathize with others and pursue lives of purpose and meaning.
THE RESULT IS YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE CREATIVE, CRITICAL AND REFLECTIVE THINKERS.
The American School of Bilbao is an IB Continuum School offering the Middle Years Programme. We are pursuing authorization as an IB World School. These are schools that share a common philosophy – a commitment to high quality, challenging, International Education that ASB believes is important for our students.
* Only schools authorized by the IB Organization can offer any of its four academic programmes: the Primary Years Programme (PYP), the Middle Years Programme (MYP), the Diploma Programme (DP), or the Career-related Programme (CP). For further information about the IB and its programmes, visit http://www.ibo.org
ACTIVE AND LIFELONG LEARNERS
THE MYP AIMS TO HELP STUDENTS DEVELOP THEIR PERSONAL UNDERSTANDING, THEIR EMERGING SENSE OF SELF AND RESPONSIBILITY IN THEIR COMMUNITY.
EIGHT
SUBJECT GROUPS
INTERDISCIPLINARY
LEARNING
CONCEPTUAL
UNDERSTANDING
TEACHING AND
LEARNING IN
CONTEXT
SERVICE
AS ACTION
Subject Areas
LANGUAGE
AND LITERATURE
MYP language and literature courses in English and Spanish include a balanced study of genres and literary texts, including a world literature component. Students’ interactions with texts generate moral, social, economic, political, cultural and environmental insights. Through their studies, students learn how to form opinions, make decisions, and engage in ethical reasoning.
LANGUAGE
ACQUISITION
Acquiring an additional language and exploring and reflecting on the cultural perspectives of our own and other communities. It is central for developing critical thinking and international-mindedness, provides an intellectual framework to support personal development, cultural identity, and conceptual understanding. All ASB students are enrolled in Euskera as their additional language. However, based on MAP Exam results and teacher recommendation, a student will take English as a Language Acquisition course instead of Language and Literature.
INDIVIDUALS
AND SOCIETIES
The MYP individuals and societies subject group incorporates disciplines traditionally studied under humanities and social sciences. This subject group encourages learners to respect and understand the world around them and equips them with the necessary skills to inquire into historical, geographical, political, social, economic, and cultural factors that affect individuals, societies and environments. At ASB we offer Integrated Humanities for MYP 1 to MYP 3 and MYP 2 and MYP 3 students are enrolled in the MYP Ciencias Sociales course to meet national curriculum requirements in addition to the Integrated Humanities course.
SCIENCES
The MYP sciences framework aims to guide students to independently and collaboratively investigate issues through research, observation, and experimentation. The MYP sciences curriculum explores the connections between science and everyday life. As they investigate real examples of science applications, students discover the tensions and dependencies between science and morality, ethics, culture, economics, politics, and the environment.
MATHEMATICS
The framework for MYP mathematics outlines four branches of mathematical study: Number, Algebra, Geometry and trigonometry, and Statistics and probability. Mathematics in the MYP is tailored to the needs of students, seeking to intrigue and motivate them to want to learn its principles. Students should see authentic examples of how mathematics is useful and relevant to their lives and be encouraged to apply it to new situations.
ARTS
In MYP arts, students function as artists as well as learners of the arts. Artists have to be curious. By developing curiosity about themselves, others and the world, students become effective learners, inquirers, and creative problem-solvers. Students create, perform and present arts in ways that engage and convey feelings, experiences and ideas. Through this practice, students acquire new skills and master those developed in prior learning. At ASB we offer both Visual Arts and Music as our Performing Arts for all MYP students.
DESIGN
Inquiry and problem-solving are at the heart of design. MYP design requires the use of the design cycle as a tool, which provides: the methodology to structure the inquiry and analyze problems; the development of feasible solutions; the creation of solutions; and the testing and evaluation of the solution. In MYP design, a solution can be a model, prototype, product or system independently created and developed by students.
PHYSICAL AND
HEALTH EDUCATION
This subject aims to empower students to understand and appreciate the value of being physically active while developing the motivation for making healthy and informed life choices. To this end, physical and health education courses foster the development of knowledge, skills, and attitudes contributing to a balanced and healthy lifestyle.
The American School of Bilbao is an IB Continuum School offering the Middle Years Programme.
Only schools authorized by the IB Organization can offer any of its four academic programmes: the Primary Years Programme (PYP), the Middle Years Programme (MYP), the Diploma Programme, or the Career-related Programme (CP). For further information about the IB and its programmes, visit http://www.ibo.org
MUN
Our Model United Nations Club, established in 2014. Come and join us to find out more about our club and its activities.
DECA
DECA prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs in marketing, finance, hospitality and management in high schools and colleges around the globe.
BULL RING
Students learn best when their learning experiences have context and are connected to their lives and the world that they have experienced.
JOURNAL CLUB
The Journal Club is a student-run club which creates a school newsletter every trimester, reporting on the most important events happening at ASB.
Teaching and learning in context
Students learn best when their learning experiences have context and are connected to their lives and the world that they have experienced. Using global contexts, MYP students explore human identity, global challenges and what it means to be internationally minded.
Conceptual understanding
Concepts are big ideas that have relevance within specific disciplines and across subject areas. MYP students use concepts as a vehicle to inquire into issues and ideas of personal, local and global significance and examine knowledge holistically.
Approaches to learning (ATL)
A unifying thread throughout all MYP subject groups, approaches to learning provide the foundation for independent learning and encourage the application of their knowledge and skills in unfamiliar contexts. Developing and applying these skills help students learn how to learn.
Service as action (community service)
Action in the MYP means learning by doing and experiencing and service has always been shared values of the IB community. Students take action when they apply what they are learning in the classroom and beyond. IB learners strive to be caring members of the community who demonstrate a commitment to service—making a positive difference to the lives of others and to the environment. Service as action is an integral part of the programme, especially in the MYP community project.
Language and identity
MYP students are required to learn at least two languages. Learning to communicate in a variety of ways is fundamental to their development of intercultural understanding and crucial to their identity affirmation.